# Accident 20170527007089A: Avions Mudry Cie CAP 231, Lebanon, PA, May 27, 2017 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 27, 2017, 13:30 local time - Place: Lebanon, PA - Airport: Keller Brothers - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Maneuver - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.2892° N, 76.3336° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2892&lon=-76.3336&mi=10 - Aircraft: N231X (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AVIONS MUDRY CIE CAP 231 - Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,308 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA194) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170527007089A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 ON MAY 27, 2017 THE COMMERCIAL PILOT TOOK OFF FROM 08N AND CLIMBED INTO THE ACTIVE AEROBATIC BOX FOR AEROBATIC MANEUVER PRACTICE. THE PILOT STATED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 2500 FT. AGL. IN A 45° NOSE UP ATTITUDE, WHEN THE ENGINE EMITTED A METALLIC RATTLING SOUND, AND SHOOK. THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AND REDUCED MANIFOLD PRESSURE. AS THE PILOT WAS TURNING THE AIRCRAFT BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE RATTLED AND SHOOK AGAIN, AND THEN FAILED WITH THE PROPELLER STOPPING COMPLETELY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART UNSUCCESSFULLY, THEN ENTERED LEFT DOWNWIND LANDING PATTERN AT 08N. AFTER TURNING BASE LEG, THE PILOT PUT THE AIRCRAFT INTO A SIDE SLIP TO MAKE A LANDING ON RUNWAY 25. THE PILOT KEPT THE AIRSPEED AT 100 MPH TILL OVER THE RUNWAY, AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WELL PAST MID-POINT ON THE RUNWAY, BOUNCING ONCE BEFORE COMING DOWN INTO A THREE WHEEL LANDING. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL BRAKING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF RUNWAY OVERRUN AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY OVERRUN AREA. WHILE MOVING DOWN THE EMBANKMENT, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED DOWN WITH THE PROPELLER SPINNER STRIKING A LARGE ROCK PROTRUDING FROM THE SOIL. THE AIRCRAFT PIVOTED OVER THE ROCK ALONG THE PITCH AXIS COMING TO REST INVERTED WITH THE TAIL DOWNSLOPE AND THE NOSE POINTING BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY. DURING THE FLIP, THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST ON TOP OF A 5 STRAND WIRE FENCE, WITH THE TOP WIRES BREAKING OUT THE BACK OF THE CANOPY AND PENETRATING THE CANOPY ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE BACK OF THE PILOT?S NECK AND HEAD. THE WINGS CAME TO REST ON TOP OF TWO FENCE POSTS. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE. THE CONDITION OF THE PROPELLER INDICATES IT WAS NOT TURNING AT IMPACT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS, CUTS, AND BRUISES. PILOT STATED HE WAS WEARING A FLIGHT HELMET. PILOT STATED MAIN FUEL TANK REFILLED TO FULL (17 GALS) AND ENG OIL LEVEL CHECKED (10 QTS) PRIOR TO TAKE OFF. KLNS METAR 1753Z 23005KT 10SM OVC047 21/14 A2991 (WX AT 08N UNAVAILABLE) INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: ?#4 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FRACTURED, PENETRATING THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CASE. ?#4 CONNECTING ROD NUT WAS RECOVERED FROM INSIDE OF CRANKCASE. ?#4 EXHAUST VALVE CAM FOLLOWER WAS FOUND INSIDE LOWER ENGINE COWLING. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ERA17LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA194), May 27, 2017: Avions Mudry Cie CAP 231 (N231X), Lebanon, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial separation of one counterweight and the subsequent seizure of the engine due to mechanical interference. Contributing to the partial separation of the counterweight was the overstress… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.